Boat door

ABSTRACT

A boat hull having a door that can swing to an open position and closed position. The door can be used for entering or exiting the boat. The door can remain closed by a latch, or a door handle. A seal may be disposed between the door and the door frame to keep water out. A ramp may be used when the door is open to allow for easier entry for people using wheeled luggage, wheelchairs, or walkers.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was not made with Government support under. TheGovernment does not have any rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a boat door. This invention relates to doorsfor drift or dory boats.

U.S. Patent Application Publication number 2007/0295257 discloses a boathaving an outside pocket door, which slides in the housing for entry andegress.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,829 discloses a sliding door for closure ofentranceways and to companionway entrance closure for watercraft.

There is a need for an entry and egress door on fishing boats. There isneed for an entry and egress door on drift or dory boats.

The present invention door or doors make it easier for a passenger toenter or exit the boat. Without a door the passenger would have to lifttheir leg over the gunwale or side of the boat causing a potentiallydangerous falling situation by putting passenger off balance if theycatch their shoe or boot or foot. Older people, children, or people withdisabilities particularly have problems climbing in and out of boats.Having a door cuts the distance to climb into the boat by close to halfmaking it similar to getting into a vehicle with a door.

The door also makes it easier to get into the boat while boat is on atrailer. Present designs force the person wanting to get in the boat toclimb over the gunwale or side of the boat creating a potentiallydangerous situation. The door makes this simpler by dropping thedistance it takes to maneuver the side or gunwale of the boat.

The main usage of a drift or a dory boat is for different types offishing. Passengers may be wearing hip waders for fly fishing, or bootsto keep warm and dry in winter seasons. Having to maneuver in and out ofthe boat while wearing this type of gear is made easier with a door.

In addition, the door of the present invention is adaptable forreceiving a ramp, so that people using crutches, walkers, or wheelchairsmay be capable of entering and exiting the boat safely.

The door or doors of the present invention are located above the waterline to allow the door to be opened while traveling if the waterconditions are favorable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a boat hull (10), comprising: afirst member (95) extending downwardly from a hull top (105) to a ledge(90), said edge (90) extending from said first member (95) forwardly toa second member (100), said second member (100) extending from saidledge (90) upwardly to said hull top (105); a hinge (20) disposed onsaid first member (95), said hinge (20) aligned substantiallyvertically; and a door (15) connected to said hinge (20) so said door(15) can swing from an open position (110) to a closed position (115).

Another aspect is a boat hull (10), comprising: a hull top (105); a doorframe defined by a ledge (90) disposed downwardly from said hull top(105), a first member (95) extending from said hull top (105) downwardlyto said ledge (90); a second member (100) extending from said hull top(105) downwardly to said ledge (90); and a door (15) hingedly connectedto the door frame.

Reference Numerals

-   10 boat hull-   14 telescoping door-   15 door-   17 door inside surface-   19 door outside surface-   20 hinge-   30 outside latch-   40 seal-   50 ramp-   55 lip-   60 inside latch-   70 rear edge-   75 lower edge-   80 front edge-   90 ledge-   95 first member-   100 second member-   105 hull top-   110 open position-   115 closed position-   120 hull inside-   125 latch receiver

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial of an embodiment of the present invention, showingcloser view of the door compared with FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial of an embodiment of a door of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of line 4 from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial of an embodiment of an inside of a door showingthe inside latch;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of line 6 from FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of the telescoping door that can flipdownwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention, since the scope of the invention is bestdefined by the appended claims.

Broadly, the present invention is a door 15 for boats. Moreparticularly, it is a door 15 for drift or dory boats.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial of an embodiment of the present invention 15. Thedoor 15 may be hingedly connected to the boat hull 10 via a hinge 20. Inone embodiment, the door 15 may be hingedly connected to the boat hull10 via a hinge 20 on a rear edge 70 of the door 15. In this embodimentthe door 15 would open similar to suicide doors of an automobile.

In one embodiment, the door 15 may remain closed by an inside latch 60,as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In another embodiment, the door 15 may remain closed by an outside latch30, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The door 15 may remain closed by the useof either the inside latch 60 or the outside latch 30 that may bedisposed near the front edge 80 of the door 15.

The latch 60 may be disposed on the hull inside 120, and the latchreceiver 125 may be disposed on the door inside surface 17. Converselythe latch 60 may be disposed on the door inside surface 17, and thelatch receiver 125 may be disposed on the hull inside (120). The latch60 is engageable with said latch receiver 125.

FIG. 1 also illustrates that a ramp 50 may be secured on the ledge 90.In one embodiment the ramp 50 may have a lip 55, which may assist insecuring the ramp 50 to the boat hull 10, as illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG.6 illustrates the lip 55 that extends downwardly from the ramp 50, andprevents the ramp 50 from slipping off the ledge 90. In one embodimentthe ramp 50 may be 36 inches wide. In another embodiment, the ramp 50may be 48 inches wide.

FIG. 3 illustrates on embodiment of the door 15 having a seal 40 thatmay be disposed anywhere on the door 15 between the door 15 and the boathull 15 to prevent water from entering between the door 15 and the boathull 10. The seal may be a rubberized material like that used forrefrigerator doors.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the door 15 where the door 15 has aseal 40 disposed on the front edge 80 of the door, and on the lower edge75.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the door 15 and the seal 40disposed along the front edge 80. FIG. 4 also illustrates the hinge 20disposed along the rear edge 70.

In another embodiment, the hinge 20 may be disposed along the front edge80.

In another embodiment a seal 40 may be disposed along the rear edge 70when the hinge 20 is disposed along the front edge 80.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the hinge may bedispose along the lower edge 75, and seals 40 may be placed along therear edge 70 and the front edge 80. In this embodiment the door 15 wouldopen downwardly.

Although the seals 40 have been disclosed as being on the door 15, theseal 40 could be placed on at least one of the first member 95, theledge 90, or the second member 100.

The door 15 may swing open via a hinge 20 outwardly, as illustrated. Inanother embodiment the door 15 may open inwardly.

FIG. 8 illustrates a telescoping door 14 that may be hingedly connectedso that the telescoping door 14 folds downwardly. This telescoping doorwould eliminate the need of a separate ramp 50. In this embodiment thetelescoping door 14 would telescope inwardly and could be flipped up asshown in FIG. 7. When the telescoping door 14 or door 15 is flippedupwardly, it may be flush with the hull top 105. When the telescopingdoor 14 or door 15 is connected via a hinge 20, the hinge 20 may connectto both the lower edge 75 and the ledge 90.

In another embodiment, the door 15 may slide in and out by the use ofchannels and guides.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A boat hull (10), comprising: a first member (95) extendingdownwardly from a hull top (105) to a ledge (90), said ledge (90)extending from said first member (95) forwardly to a second member(100), said second member (100) extending from said ledge (90) upwardlyto said hull top (105); a hinge (20) disposed on said first member (95),said hinge (20) aligned substantially vertically; and a door (15)connected to said hinge (20) so said door (15) can swing from an openposition (110) to a closed position (115).
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: an inside latch (60) disposed on a hull inside (120)near said second member (100) so that said inside latch (60) can engagewith a latch receiver (125) on the door to keep said door (15) in aclosed position (115).
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:an outside latch (30) disposed on a hull outside near said second member(100) so that said outside latch (30) can turn so that a portion of saidoutside latch (30) contacts said door (15) to keep said door (15) in aclosed position (115).
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a seal (40) secured to at least one of either a lower edge (75) or afront edge (80) of said door (15).
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a ramp (50) removably engaged with said ledge (90).
 6. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein said ramp (50) has a lip (55) extendingdownwardly from said ramp (50) to prevent the ramp (50) from slippingoff said ledge (90).
 7. A boat hull (10), comprising: a hull top (105);a door frame defined by a ledge (90) disposed downwardly from said hulltop (105), a first member (95) extending from said hull top (105)downwardly to said ledge (90); a second member (100) extending from saidhull top (105) downwardly to said ledge (90); and a door (15) hingedlyconnected to the door frame.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein saiddoor (15) can be swung via a hinge (20) from a closed position (115) toan open position (110);
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:a seal (40) secured to a lower edge (75) of the door (15) to preventwater from entering between said lower edge (75) and said ledge (90).10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a seal (40) secured toa front edge (80) of said door (15) to prevent water from enteringbetween said front edge (80) and said second member (100).
 11. Theapparatus of claim 7, further comprising a ramp (50) removably disposedon said ledge (90), said ramp (50) having a lip (55) extendingdownwardly from said ramp (50) so that said ramp (50) does not slip offof said ledge (90).
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: alatch receiver (125) disposed on said door (15) inside surface (17); aninside latch (60) disposed on a hull inside (120); said inside latch(60) engagably connected to said latch receiver (125) so that when saidinside latch (60) is engaged with said latch receiver (125) said door isin a closed position (115), and when said inside latch (60) is notengaged with said latch receiver (125), said door (15) can be moved toan open position (110).
 13. The apparatus of claim 7, furthercomprising: a latch (30) disposed on the outside of the hull; said latch(30) capable of being moved to engage with said door (15) to keep saiddoor (15) in a closed position (115).
 14. The apparatus of claim 7,further comprising: a doorknob handle that is disposed on said door(15), said doorknob handle capable of engaging with the hull to keep thedoor in the closed position (115).
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: an inside latch (60) disposed on the door inside surface(17) so that said inside latch (60) can engage with a latch receiver(125) on the hull inside (120) to keep the door (15) in a closedposition (115).
 16. A boat hull (10), comprising: a hull top (105); adoor frame defined by a ledge (90) disposed downwardly from said hulltop (105), a first member (95) extending from said hull top (105)downwardly to said ledge (90); a second member (100) extending from saidhull top (105) downwardly to said ledge (90); and a telescoping door(14) hingedly connected to a ledge (90) of the door frame.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein said door (15) can be swung via a hinge(20) from a closed position (115) to an open position (110);
 18. Theapparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a seal (40) secured to alower edge (75) of the door (15) to prevent water from entering betweensaid lower edge (75) and said ledge (90).
 19. The apparatus of claim 16,further comprising: a seal (40) secured to a front edge (80) of saiddoor (15) to prevent water from entering between said front edge (80)and said second member (100).
 20. The apparatus of claim 16, furthercomprising a seal (40) disposed on at least one of a first member (95),a second member (100) or a ledge (90).